Chapter 5: The Tangled Web

Their first night on base had proven to be a restless one. 

“So the princess is leading the revolutionary forces,” Malakos muttered. The party had gathered together in a private cell, to discuss their next move in hushed whispers. 

“Bit more extreme than most rebellious phases,” Bardy shrugged. “But what do I know about upper-class society?” 

“I’ll tell you about upper-class society–” Deruque started, but the others continued over him. 

“She wasn’t kidnapped,” Ruby said. “She’s not being held against her will. In fact, you could even argue that the castle was where she was being held against her will, and that returning her would make us the kidnappers.” 

“This changes things,” Malakos scrunched his eyes closed and rubbed the space between them. 

“Yeah,” Bardy mused. “How are we gonna convince the princess to go back to the castle? Or should we use force?”

“You’re still planning to take her back?” Ruby asked. 

“Well, we won’t get paid if we don’t–and nobody said anything to me about the plan changing,” the halfling said defensively. 

Everything was silent for a moment, before he prompted, “...Has the plan changed?” 

Malakos released a long breath before answering. “I…don’t think we have a choice. We came here to rescue a princess for the crown. It turns out we need to rescue a kingdom from the crown.”

Deruque startled everyone with a loud outburst of support. “YES! DOWN WITH THE CRO–!”

All three other members slammed down with their hands on his muzzle, effectively silencing him for the moment. 

“But…the money?” Bardy groused. “I’m all for doing good, but I can’t do that on an empty stomach. And our benefactor is the one in charge of the kingdom’s extensive treasury.” 

“Not for much longer, if we have anything to say about it,” Malakos said. “That treasure hoard is going to feed the people of this town, one way or the other.”

“I vote for the violent way,” Deruque muttered through the three sets of hands over his mouth. 

“And I’m sure the new leader will remember your efforts, Bardy,” Ruby added. 

This seemed to satisfy the halfling, and they all settled down to sleep. 

The next week gave the party more insight into the Red Cloaks. Teams came and went–most on charitable missions to alleviate the suffering of the townsfolk, but some were sent to raid the wealthy for funds from time to time. Occasionally, they would come back with bits of armor they had been able to swipe as well–all of which were added to the slowly-growing armory. 

The party found their talents well-appreciated among the other members. Bardy discovered an eager audience in the other revolutionaries, who cheered for his performances at every meal. Ruby spent long hours attending to the animals in the stalls, connecting with their riders. Malakos kept himself busy in the clinic, some days leaving only long after the sun had gone down. Even Deruque successfully secured the camaraderie of the other troops–his passion and long speeches becoming a sort of endearing inside joke the entire base could share. 

“You’re just getting off now?” Ruby asked, as Malakos slipped into their sleeping quarters.

“Yeah,” he whispered, taking off his cleric’s robe and hanging it on a chair. “Grishnar’s party got in late. Had some stab wounds, but they’re right as rain now.”

“Did you eat?” 

“I did, yeah. How’s everything outside the clinic? I don’t think I’ve stepped outside it during daylight hours in three days.”

“Well, you know–Deruque’s gotten into giving speeches at every meal.”

“I have heard that, actually. He’s very…vocally gifted.” 

“We’ve also caught him trying to send letters to the king–not like that,” she said, as Malakos sat up in alarm. “He’s not betraying us–at least, not intentionally. The letters are all taunting the king that we’ve deserted to work for his enemies.”

“...Are we sure all the anti-monarchy stuff isn’t just a ruse? Maybe he’s just playing dumb to get us to underestimate him.”

“He’s not playing dumb,” Ruby rolled her eyes. “He’s been trying to deliver the notes by tying them to random birds and throwing them. This last time, he tied it to a plucked goose he got from the kitchen.”

Malakos warily lowered himself back down onto his bedroll. “Still, we should be careful. Where is he, anyway?” 

“We tied him up and stuck him in the cell next door for a while until he promises to stop.” 

“Fair enough,” the tiefling curled up and closed his eyes, exhaustion overtaking him. 

“One more thing,” Ruby said. “Lately there’s been a lot of guys looking at us and whispering something about an initiation. Sometimes that happens–you know, when people join groups. I’ve had my fair share in my ranger training. I just–kinda wanted to make sure you were aware. Have you ever been hazed before?” 

“Well, not really as a cleric,” he chuckled sleepily. “Not really our thing. But before the ministry, when I was enlisted in–” he stopped himself. “A-anyway, on that note–initiation. That…that kind of means that they accept us as members, right?” 

“Yeah,” Ruby said. “I mean, they pretty much already do. It’s just tradition, I bet. Anyway, just be ready for whatever they’re planning.” 

“Right,” Malakos said, quietly. 

So we’ve earned their trust. He thought. But it’s built on a lie. How long can a trust like that stand? And…if the lie crumbles, can it survive the fall?

The team was awakened early the next morning by a goblin at their door. 

“Up and at ’em, shava’gaa,” he said, using the Ghukliak term for ‘rookie/s’ or, more literally, ‘sword brother child/ren.’ “Commander Dimir wants to see you guys.”

The team rose and dressed quickly, making their way to the main hall. Strangely, the tables were not set up for breakfast–they had all been cleared from the center, arranged instead like a ring around an amphitheater. The rest of the forces were seated on every surface they could fit in. Some good-natured snickering and elbowing broke out in quiet waves, as the party appeared.

Ruby groaned. “Looks like the hazing thing is happening today.”

“Hey, at least this means they’ll accept us as one of them,” Bardy said. 

“Bring it on,” Deruque punched his hand and grinned. 

Malakos was silent. 

They approached Commander Dimir, who stood to greet them. “Thank you for coming,” she said. “It’s been one week since you joined our group, and we figured it was about time to make things official. But before we do–”

“Before we do, I would speak to you in private,” Malakos said. All the anticipating snickers stopped, curious heads turning to look at them. 

Dimir’s brow furrowed, but she directed the tiefling to her office. Malakos brushed past Ruby and whispered, “Listen for my signal. If I give it, you take the others and escape.” Before she could ask for clarification, the cleric had followed Dimir, and the door shut. 

After the door was closed, the Commander gestured for Malakos to speak. 

“I am grateful for the trust you have given me, in accepting me into your ranks,” the tiefling started. “But I cannot accept it until I’ve been completely honest with you. I will not have my secrets causing misunderstandings and possible trouble at crucial times for this cause. You should know that I did not come here to avenge my cousin. I have no cousin. I was originally hired by your father, the king, to find his kidnapped daughter and return her to him.” Malakos was careful to use language that would incriminate only himself, in case the rest of the team needed to feign innocence. “But in my search for you, I discovered that the king was not someone I wished to align myself with, and I–”

“--and we decided to betray him and join you guys!” Bardy said, popping out from behind Malakos’s legs, much to the outrage of the cleric. 

“What are you doing there?! I said I wanted to speak in private!” 

“I mean, you really should know better at this point that there is nothing more tempting than a secret.”

“How long do you intend to keep hiding in my cloak?!”

“It’s warm in here. You’re the best heater on our team.” 

“Get out!” 

Commander Dimir cleared her throat. Malakos and Bardy fell silent. 

Her expression was grave as she spoke. “Then…how am I supposed to know where your loyalties truly lie?”

“I–we have absolutely nothing to gain from giving you this information, aside from the security of your cause,” Malakos said. 

“You could be working as spies for the king,” Dimir countered. 

“Spies that voluntarily give you reasons not to trust them would be very poor spies indeed.” 

“Unless they are playing the long game, for greater trust.” 

“Admittedly, we only met him briefly–but your father didn’t strike me as the type of man who cares for the long game. Especially not when he could easily obliterate your forces with his own right now, before you get the chance to grow stronger.”

Dimir looked pensive, but didn’t say anything. 

“We’ve been here a week,” Bardy added. “If we were spies, the king would’ve put an end to this whole operation the day after we got here.” 

“You do make a good point,” Dimir admitted, slowly. She looked up at them, her eyes narrowed, calculating. “Still, this means I have to consider you a risk.”

Malakos's pulse raged in his ears. Why had he taken such a chance? Now they would all die for his stupid, misguided sense of integrity! He readied himself to signal the others to escape, but was stopped by Lady Dimir's next words.

"So prove to me that you're a risk worth taking." 

"Wha–?" 

"Choose your opponent." She stood and walked to the door. Outside, the crowd was chattering blithely amongst themselves. Deruque and Ruby were engaged in a thumb-wrestling match. Dimir strode forward and gestured to a table of four goblins on her left. "You may choose a fight of four on four, or," she turned to her right and indicated her second-in-command, "you may all fight against Captain Rykard. Choose well." 

Then, unexpectedly, she gave a smile tinged with mischief. “It’s…sort of a tradition–to be welcomed as an official Red Cloak. We all have our pasts. Let’s see if you have a future here.” And with that, she took her seat again in the audience.

Malakos faltered for a moment, processing the change in atmosphere, then bowed to excuse himself.